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Matt Thaler, Site Administrator.
*Delta/Northwest Suspend LGW/KIX/CDG, Start FCO* Delta/Northwest has announced these route changes in order to use the planes on other routes. This comes as Delta announces 15 new international routes, only 1 from Detroit. Please click here for the full Detroit Spotters coverage.

INTRO:Sorry for the long time in between newsletters. Life caught up to me and I have not had the time. Anyway, thank you all for your role in Detroit Spotters, our traffic is up 70% over the past 3 months. We reached a new record on our forum in terms of number of total members, and total members online at one time. I appreciate everything that you guys have contributed to Detroit Spotters

INDUSTRY NEWS:

Aeromexico will end its 6 weekly DTW-MTY-MEX service after only 9 months of service. After launching as 3 weekly service with the Boeing 737-700, it was increased to 6 weekly when they switched to the slightly smaller Embraer 190 operated by Aeromexico Connect. Loads were good on all flights and beat expectations according to inside sources.

The planned Aerotropolis has taken another step forward to completion. Marsha Ennis, from DTE Energy, has been named project manager. Local council members are expected to sign on to the plan soon. A planned Aerotropolis Development Corp would also be created.

Four airplanes were blown around by strong wind gusts up to 60 knots early morning. A Northwest 757 was blown around and the left wing struck the jet bridge, a Continental 737-800 damaged its wingtip on a jetway, a Northwest A320 received damages when it struck some ground equipment, and an American Eagle ERJ-135 was swung 90 degrees but received no damages. The airport eventually had the jetways pulled from aircraft at both terminals. The North terminal also lost power for approximately 8 minutes during the high winds.

Delta/Northwest Airlines have announced they are delaying the Shanghai flight for 3 months and reducing the flight form daily to 4 weekly in order to complicate ATL service. The flight, initially scheduled to start March 28th, is now delayed till June 3rd. The reduction from daily to 4 weekly is to help aid the Atlanta flight which is reported to be struggling already.

China Southern Airlines has announced that it is delaying its Detroit launch indefinitely on the heels of more 787 delays. The flight, DTW-PEK was scheduled to start as a 777-200 until the 787 arrived, but as Boeing announced another set of delays, China Southern decided to put off the flight until they receive their 787’s. This is saddening news on the announcements of international flight cuts from Delta/Northwest.

A law suit was filed complaining that Detroit Metro Airport does not have the proper accommodations for disabled passengers trying to get from the parking garage to the terminal. The suit claims that the ramps are too steep and moving walkways are too dangerous for people in wheelchairs.
In a recent report on healthfulness of restaurants in airports, DTW scored 1st, tied with Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. This award is among several other awards for Detroit’s concessions services which are constantly ranked the best in the nation.

Northwest/Delta Airlines announced today it will launch non-stop flights between Detroit and Rome, Italy starting June 4th. The new flight will be operated by Northwest’s Airbus A330 aircraft. Italy was the 3rd largest market not served directly from Detroit, with the first being China

Delta/Northwest Airlines announced it will be suspending Detroit to Paris, France and Detroit to Osaka, Japan. On the CDG route they are handing over the route completely to Air France which is expected to fly the larger 777-200 or A340-300 to Detroit, rather than the A330-200 on the route now. On the KIX flight they are dropping it in order to use the Boeing 747 on another route, ATL-NRT. This news comes on the same day Delta announced 15 new international flights all at airports other than DTW and most using former Northwest aircraft.